The texture of the spinning; ear all keen For aimless talking when the moon is up, And ye should be a-sleeping; tongue to cut With quick incision, ’thwart the merry words Of idle maidens.... Only yesterday My hands did cease from spinning; I have wrought My dreary duties, patient till the last. The gods reward me! Nay, I will not tell The after years of sorrow; wretched strife With grimmest foes--sad Want and Poverty;-- Nor yet the time of horror, when they bore My husband from the threshold; nay, nor when The subtle weed had wrought its deadly work. Alas! alas! I was not there to soothe The last great moment; never any thought Of her that loved him--save at least the charge, All earthly, that her body should not starve.... You weep, you weep; I would not that ye wept; Such tears are idle; with the young, such grief Soon grows to gratulation, as, “her love Was withered by misfortune; mine shall grow All nurtured by the loving,” or, “her life Was wrecked and shattered--mine shall smoothly sail.” Enough, enough. In vain, in vain, in vain! The gods forgive me! Sorely have I sinned In all my life. A fairer fate befall You all that stand there.... Ha! the dawn has come; I see a rosy glimmer--nay! it grows dark; Why stand ye so in silence? throw it wide, The casement, quick; why tarry?--give me air-- O fling it wide, I say, and give me light! _Medea._ (A FRAGMENT IN DRAMA FORM, AFTER EURIPIDES.) πάντων δ’ ὅσ’ ἔστ’ ἔμψυχα καὶ γνώμην ἔχει γυναῖκές ἐσμεν ἀθλιώτατον φυτόν: [Illustration: text decoration] PERSONS. MEDEA.} ÆGEUS.} Citizens of Corinth. JASON.} NIKIAS.} _Scene_: _Before_ MEDEA’S _House_. [_Enter_ MEDEA.] MEDEA.